Ultrasonic microscope

Abstract

In order to replace acoustic lenses, frequency units corresponding to frequencies used by the acoustic lenses and housing transmitted pulse generating means, circulators and receiving means can be selected and the signal of a gate opening at a timing at which ultrasonic waves of a sample return can be selected.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic microscope for examination of a sample, said microscope having an acoustic lens assembly, and having a structure to emit acoustic waves from a specific frequency pulse transmitter to a spherical lens part through a propagation medium and to receive a reflected sample signal and to produce a sample image on a cathode-ray tube by scanning said acoustic lens in a raster pattern, said ultrasonic microscope comprising: a plurality of acoustic lenses forming said acoustic lens assembly, which lenses are selectably interchangeable with one another for a specific purpose;   a plurality of frequency units provided for respective frequencies, and having transmitted pulse generators and receivers;   a plurality of matching means corresponding to said respective frequencies; and   a changing switch means to generate a change signal for changing a corresponding frequency unit and matching means to be operable with a selected acoustic lens in response to the selection of said selected acoustic lens.   
     
     
       2. An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 1, further comprising: a discriminating code means for outputting a discriminating code corresponding to said selected acoustic lens;   a change controlling means for controlling said changing switch means to change said corresponding frequency unit and said matching means to be operable with said selected acoustic lens in response to said code and to generate a pair of corresponding signals.   
     
     
       3. An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 2 wherein said discriminating code includes the frequency, operating distance and opening angle of the acoustic lens. 
     
     
       4. An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 3 wherein said change controlling means outputs the signal of the frequency to be used, operating distance and opening angle of the acoustic lens to be replaced. 
     
     
       5. An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 4 wherein said change signal can be manually set. 
     
     
       6. An ultrasonic microscope for examination of a sample, said microscope having an acoustic lens assembly, and having a structure to emit acoustic waves from a specific frequency pulse transmitter to a spherical lens part through a propagation medium and to receive a reflected sample signal and to produce a sample image on a cathode-ray tube by scanning said acoustic lens in a raster pattern, said ultrasonic microscope comprising: a plurality of acoustic lenses forming said acoustic lens assembly, which lenses are selectably interchangeable with one another for a specific purpose;   a plurality of frequency units provided for respective frequencies, and having transmitted pulse generators and receivers;   a plurality of matching means corresponding to said respective frequencies;   a gate timing generating means for generating gate signals at a plurality of different timings in response to the lens length of said acoustic lens to make it possible to receive the reflected acoustic wave returning from the sample; and   a timing controlling means for outputting control signals to determine the timing of the gate signal by the selection of an acoustic lens on said gate timing generating means.   
     
     
       7. An ultrasonic microscope according to claim 6 wherein said gate timing generating means is variably changed from a timing representing an acoustic lens of a specific lens length in order to receive the reflected acoustic wave from the sample surface to a timing which enables the acoustic lens to receive the reflected acoustic wave from the interior of the sample.